Thanjavur: Delta ryots caution against water wastage this year

THANJAVUR: Though water is being released from Karnataka, it is yet to reach Mettur dam and on Sunday the level stood at 39-ft with a storage of 11 tmcft.  But more rains in Karnataka may bring more inflows and help to add storage in Mettur dam, farmers feel.

At the same time, farmers are also worried about wastage of water when the flows turn surplus. Last year it happened when Mettur dam brimmed over thrice and more water released leading to a flood situation. With no adequate facilities and measures available to store and use, the surplus waters drained into sea last year. Many farmers said that this year, PWD and government should take measures to utilise every drop of water without wasting like last year.

On July 22, 2018, Mettur dam surplused. Nearly 60,000 cusecs of water reached the dam and 20,000 cusecs were released. After five years the dam filled up. Again the dam filled up in third week of August, when 70,000 cusecs and 30,000 cusecs were released from dam. But lot of water went waste into sea. “This year we have to be careful in using and storing water,” stressed farmers.

However, officials said that already ponds, lakes and tanks are being de-silted and renovated under Kudimaramathu and Jal Shakthi Abhiyan schemes. Moreover PWD has taken up de-silting work on a major scale in all river divisions.

According to A. Annadurai, Thanjavur district collector, rivers and canals to a distance of 795.26-km are to be de-silted at a cost of Rs 29.59 crore by PWD. Works have already commenced. A total of 114 works will be done this year in Thanjavur district. In Cauvery division in the western region de-silting will be done to a distance of 40.05-km at a cost of Rs 5.78 crore. In eastern region (Kumbakonam) de-silting will be done to a distance of 169-km at a cost of Rs 1.97 crore, in Vennar division for a distance of 173.2-km at a cost of Rs 4.06 crore, in GA canal division for 367.14-km at a cost of Rs 8.67 crore and in Agniyar division for a distance of 51.65-km at a cost of Rs 4.16 crore.

V. Jeevakumar, a farmer from Budalur said that sustainability is the main requirement now. “Karnataka is releasing only surplus waters and when it comes to us we must make arrangements for storing it,” he urged.